"Power of the Sister Vote" survey

ESSENCE in partnership with The Black Womenas Roundtableconducted the 3rd annual Power of the Sister Vote poll. Thesurvey was fielded online between July 6th a 11th, 2017.

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ESSENCE Insiders panel members and the 2017 ESSENCEFestival attendees participated in the survey.

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A total of 1,247 (1,001 ESSENCE Insiders members + 246Essence Music Festival attendees) completed the surveya

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ESSENCE Insiders received an entry into the panelquarterly sweepstakes; Festival attendees received a $5.00Amazon gift code for completing the survey

The goal of the survey was to:a

Collect feedback from Black women on their politicaloutlook and issues they consider important to theircommunity

a

Voice their opinion on Trumpas presidency

Nearly (98%) all of the respondents are registered voters

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KEY FINDINGSFor the past three years, ESSENCE and the Black Womenas Roundtable network have partnered on asurvey with the objective to understand the political attitudes of Black women.In the first study, we learned that 64% of Black women view voting as an important responsibilitygiven the history of Black people. Black women overwhelmingly (78%) believe the Democratic partybest represents their interest in comparison, only 1% have trust in the Republican party. We alsolearned that affordable health care is the top issue for Black women.The second study was conducted before the 2016 Presidential election, and the confidence in theDemocratic party increased to 85% with no change in support for the Republican party. Also,affordable health care continued to be the top issue for Black women.The 2017 survey tells us that Black women are local activists, their support for the Democratic partyhas declined, and President Trump gets a failing grade.iP A majority of Black women (61%) are active in their community, even more so for the ESSENCEFestival attendees (70%).a The ESSENCE Festival appeals to activists of all ages. In the 2016 Festival focus groupresearch, a few participants stated that they come to the festival often to gain usefulinformation to take back to their communities.iP The belief that the Democratic party best represents the interest of Black women has droppedsignificantly in a year, from 85% to 74%. In fact, more Black women think that none of thepolitical parties represent them well, up to 21% from 13% in 2016.3

KEY FINDINGS (continued)iP Affordable health care is the top concern for one out of two Black women, ranking as the #1 issuefor three years in a row.a A third of Black women in the current survey are concerned about the rise in hate crimes, anew issue added to the list.Rating the New PresidentiP President Trumpas approval rating with Black women is abysmal. He received an F for his jobperformance and 93% disagree with the statement that Trump is addressing the issues that aremost important to me.iP Protecting the Affordable Healthcare Act is the issue the majority of Black women (56%) wantthe President and Congress to address now, confirming how important this issue is for them.

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Black women are activists, especially Festival Goers.iP Community activism is important to Black Women of all agesiP ESSENCE Festival women (70%) lead in activism when compared to ESSENCE Insiders(59%)

Yes,A IamA ActiveA inA MyA CommunityTotalA BlackA Women

ESSENCEA INSIDERS

70%61% 59%

69%59%

FESTIVALA GOERS

70%62% 61%

50%

TotalA BlackA Women

BlackA WomenA 18a34

BlackA WomenA 35+

Significantly Higher than Total Black Women

Q. Are you active in your community? [Base: 1247- All Respondents]

Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey

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Black Women are mostly involved in their community andplace of worship.iP Nearly, six in ten are community organizersiP One in two are active in their place of worshipType of ActivismTotal Black Women

57% 58%

52%

ESSENCE INSIDERS

FESTIVAL GOERS

52% 52% 50%27% 26%

31%23% 24%

16%

16%9%

CommunityOrganizationAge 18-34: (57%)Age 35+ (57%)

Local Faith institution

Local school

Online activism

7%

College Campus

Age 18-34: 50%)Age 35+ (53%)

Q. How are you active? [ BASE: 766- Among those who are active in the community]

Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey

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The majority of Black women continue to believe in the DemocraticParty, although the support dropped significantly in a year.iP In the 2016 survey, Black women overwhelmingly (85%) felt the Democratic party best represented theirinterest and according to a CNN Presidential election exit poll, 94% of Black women voted for Hillary Clinton.iP Democrats should take notice; there has been a significant shift in trust among Black women, down from 85% to74%, a -11% drop.

The Political Party that Best Represents Black Women isa|

78%

2015

85%

2016

74%

2017

NONE1%

1%

1%

2015

2016

2017

18%

13%

2015

2016

21%2017

Percentages in green represent significantly higher than both the years compared at 95% confidence level.Percentages in red represent significantly lower than both the years compared at 95% confidence level.

BASE: 2015- 1862 and 2016- 1282

Q. Which political party best represents the interests of the Black women? [BASE: 1247- All Respondents]Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey

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Affordable Health care continues to be the top concern.iP In 2017, a third of Black women are concerned about the rise in hate crimes.iP Black women are less concerned about living wage jobs, college affordability, expanding voting rights, right toreproductive choices and earned sick time/paid family leave.

Younger = Age 18-24 Older = Age 35+BASE: 2015- 1862 and 2016- 1282Percentages in green represent significantly higher than both the years compared at 95% confidence level.Percentages in red represent significantly lower than both the years compared at 95% confidence level.

Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey

Q. In your opinion, what are the top three (3) issues facing the Black community today? [BASE: 1247- All Respondents]

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FEEDBACKON

PRESIDENCY

President Trump gets a failing grade from Black women.iP Nearly all Black women are in agreement that Trump is not addressing issues thatare important to them.How would you rate President Trumpas job performance?

President Trump is addressing the issues thatare most important to me.

Total BlackWomenGRADE

F

D

C

B

A

Total

80%

12%

2%

1%

0%

ESSENCEInsiders

81%

11%

3%

1%

0%

FESTIVALGoers

76%

15%

1%

0%

0%

93%

ESSENCE Insiders

93%

FESTIVAL Goers

94%

*DisagreeA A =A Strongly/SomewhatBASE: 1247- All RespondentsQ. How would you rate President Trumpas job performance? What letter grade would you give him? [5% are undecided]Q. Think about the issues that are most important to you, how much do you agree with this statement? President Trump is addressing theSource:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Surveyissues that are most important to me.

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Protect the Affordable Healthcare Act, now!

56%

President Trump and the U.S. Congress should address..

18%

14%

10%2%

Protect AffordableHealthcare Act(Obamacare)

Protect Medicareand Medicaid

Protect SocialSecurity

Cut the FederalBudget

Other

Q. What do you most want President Trump and the U.S. Congress to address now? Select one [BASE: 1247- All Respondents]Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey

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DEMOGRAPHICSTotal

Panel

FestivalAttendees

(1247)

(1001)

(246)

46

48

37

Age 18-34

16%

10%

42%

Age 35+

84%

90%

58%

Median HHI

51685

51382

52940

HHI < $50K

48%

48%

46%

HHI $50K+

52%

52%

54%

Married/Living with partner

38%

39%

36%

Single, meaning never married

39%

37%

47%

Children in household aged 17 or younger

33%

31%

42%

Employed

81%

79%

85%

College Graduate or more

70%

69%

77%

Median Age

Percentages in green represent significantly higher than Panel group at 95% confidence level.Percentages in red represent significantly lower than Panel group at 95% confidence level.

Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey

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APPENDIX

REGISTERED TO VOTE

Currently Registered to Vote

Reasons for Not Registering to VoteI am not an American citizen.Due to my religious belief, I do not participatein government.

98%Are registered tovote

Don't feel any candidates can bring aboutthe changes that matter most to me.I don't participate in politics.I just moves to a different state.I am registered just not where I live I missedthe opportunity to change it this time around.

Q. Are you currently registered to vote? [BASE: 1247- All Respondents]Q. Why not? [BASE: 22- Among those who are not registered to vote]

Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey

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A few (13%) Black women have considered running for office.

Considered running for local or state office

Position considered/considering running for

13%Considered running for localor state office since PresidentTrump has been elected

Q. Since President Trump has been elected, have you considered running for local or state office? [BASE: 1247- All Respondents]Q. For what position? [BASE: 157- Among those who considered running for local or state office]

Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey 15

Issues Ratings Across Age Groups

2017

2016

2015

Total

18-34

35+

Total

18-34

35+

Total

18-34

35+

Base

1247

202

1045

1282

136

1146

1862

253

1609

Affordable Healthcare

48%

34%

51%

52%

40%

53%

49%

32%

52%

Living Wage Jobs

37%

43%

36%

45%

39%

46%

43%

38%

44%

College Affordability

19%

25%

18%

35%

40%

34%

38%

45%

37%

Quality Public Education

37%

35%

38%

31%

32%

31%

38%

41%

37%

Criminal Justice Reform

43%

49%

42%

45%

45%

45%

37%

39%

36%

Policing Reform

26%

24%

26%

27%

30%

26%

21%

26%

20%

Right to Reproductive Choices

3%

5%

3%

17%

27%

16%

17%

23%

17%

Expanding Voting Rights

5%

3%

6%

10%

3%

10%

16%

13%

16%

Earned Sick Time/Paid Family Leave

2%

2%

2%

11%

17%

10%

14%

16%

14%

Entrepreneurship Opportunity

9%

14%

8%

8%

13%

8%

12%

15%

11%

Others

4%

4%

4%

5%

2%

5%

6%

5%

6%

Rise in Hate Crimes

33%

28%

34%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Equal Pay

18%

19%

17%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Environmental Justice/Climate

6%

7%

6%

-

-

-

-

-

-

School Choice(Pre-K-2)

5%

6%

5%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Redistricting

4%

3%

5%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q. In your opinion, what are the top three (3) issues facing the Black community today? [BASE: 1247- All Respondents]Source:A 2017A ESSENCE/BWRA Survey 16